Collapsible cigarette package with cover



June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATING 2,983,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS INVENTOR. Jerome V. Keohng iff/M ATTORNEY June 13,1961 J. v. KEATING 2,988,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE wrm COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jerome V. Kenhng ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 J. v.KEATING 2,988,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet "5 lo'a FIG. '4.

INVENTOR.. Jerome V. Keonng ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATINGCOLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Jerome V Keuhng ATTORNEY lzy/ 2,988,261COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Jerome V. Keating, 1515Leverick St., Jackson Heights, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 618,124 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-38) Thisinvention relates to a collapsible cigarette package.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide acollapsible cigarette package or bundle that has stiff front and rearpanels and soft paper sides and when opened is provided with acollapsible cover that is adapted to extend over the top of thecigarette package to enclose the cigarettes and wherein this cover ispermitted to be collapsed with the stiff panels as the rows ofcigarettes are removed and wherein the cover is retained in its closedposition by a tongue thereon that is extended into a stiffened frontpanel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cigarettepackage that is collapsible to con sume less and less space as the rowsof cigarettes are removed and yet have the appearance of and thestiffness and protection for the cigarettes that is afforded by thecardboard cigarette box with its attached cover.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a collapsiblecigarette package in which stiffening elements that are used to causethe even collapse of the package serve to support the cover and have theslot through which the tongue of the cover is extended to retain thecover in its closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsiblecigarette package that has a cover which has foldable side portions toprevent the outflow of crumbs of tobacco as the cover is lifted and asthe cigarette is removed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible cigarettepackage, having the above objects in mind, which is of simpleconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, durable,compact, of pleasing appearance, effective and efficient in use.

For other objects, and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a cigarette package constructedaccording to one form of the invention wherein the stiffened wrapperparts on the front panel overlie one another to provide an opening intowhich the tongue of the cover is extended to be held in its closedposition,

FIG. 2 is a layout of the tinfoil inner wrapper used that has a tearaway thread for removing immediately the folded top part of the foil,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tinfoil inner wrapper of FIG. 2partially folded into shape,

FIG. 4 is a layout of the paper outer wrapper that has the top coverintegrally formed thereon,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an already opened cigarette package withthe cover partially lifted and the outer of the front panel broken awayto show the opening into which the tongue is inserted, the transparentouter wrapper having been removed therefrom,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of the invention whereinthe stiffened front panel has a slit in the front thereof to receive thetongue of the cover, the cover being made as cardboard extension andscored to permit its collapse with the panels as the rows of cigarettesare removed from thepackage,

FIG. 7 is a layout of the outer wrapper used in the form of theinvention shown in FIG. 6 with the cover attached thereto,

nite States Patent 0 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cigarette packageconstructed according to still another form of the invention includingindividual stiffening elements to one of which the cardboard coverextension is attached and to other of which a loop for receiving thetongue of the cover is attached,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal stiffening sleeve that hascovers at the top thereof which have to be turned to provide access tothe cigarettes so as to encourage systematic removal of one row ofcigarettes at a time,

FIG. 10 is a perspective and collective view of the external stiffeningelements with the cover and loop respectively attached thereto,

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the cigarette package taken online 11-11 of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsed package afterthe front row has been removed,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsed package wherethe cover on the internal stiffening sleeve has been removed to provideaccess to the next row of cigarettes,

FIG. 14 is a layout of an outer wrapper similar to the wrapper shown inFIG. 4 but With the wrapper provided with collapsible cover sideportions and with one of the front panel parts being shorter than theother,

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cigarette packageformed from the wrapper shown in FIG. 14 with the cover partially foldedthereover and side portions being folded inwardly,

FIG. 16 is a layout of a wrapper similar to the wrapper shown in FIG. 7but with the cardboard cover element provided with foldable cover sideportions,

' FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cigarette package formed from thewrapper shown in FIG. 16 and with the cover tab partially extended intothe front panel retaining slit,

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a still further form of theinvention having the foldable cover side portions wherein the package ismade from stiff front and back pieces and a thin paper running aroundthe sides and bottoms thereof and extended to provide the foldable coverside portions,

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary layout of one end of the paper side portion onthe form of the invention shown in FIG. 18, showing the cover and thefoldable cover sideportions,

FIG. 20 is a layout of a cigarette package formed of a. single wrappermember having stiffened front, back, loop and double layer sideportions,

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which thewrapper is folded to encompass the cigarettes,

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cigarette packagefinally formed of the wrapper shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 and with thecover tongue partially extended through the loop in the front of thepackage, and

FIG. 23 is a layout of a further form where a single layerside portionis provided at each side of the package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, 15 represents an innerwrapper formed of tinfoil and the usual paper liner. This inner wrapperhas a bottom end portion 16 with two side flaps 17. and 18, and. frontand rear portions 19 and 20 folded upwardly from the bottom end portion16 and which respectively have side flaps 21, 22 and 23, 24 that overlieone another, the sides of the cigarettes and the side flaps 17 and 18 ofthe bottom end portion. Top flap portions 25 and 26 are thereafterfolded in at the top in the usual manner to cover the upper ends of thecigarettes therewithin.

When these top flap portions of the inner wrapper are folded over thecigarettes, a tear string 27' secured to the back portion 20 of theinner wrapper 15 is enclosed within and around the top of the wrapperwith a short end allowed to be exposed as best shown in FIG. 1. Thecigarettes are indicated at 28. Instead of using the tear string toprovide easy access to the cigarettes, the ends of the cigarettes at thetop of the package may be covered with a detached piece of foil that canbe easily pulled out and discarded. Also, in lieu of the pull string 27,a row of perforations can be provided all around the top of the tinfoilwrapper to facilitate the removal thereof.

In accordance with the invention, a flexible paper outer wrapper 30 iscut and folded to provide a cover 31 with a tongue 32 thereon and anopening in the front of the package into which the tongue can beextended. This paper wrapper 30has a stiffened back portion 34 uponwhich side portions 35 and 36 are folded and to the upper end of whichthe cover 31 is folded along line 31 thereof. On the side portion 35 isan inner front portion 37 that folds across the front of the package andover or under which a shorter front portion 38 on the side portion '36is folded to provide for the opening 33 therebetween. By having theportion 38 shorter than the portion 37 the opening 33 is made moreaccessible and the end of the tongue is more easily inserted into theopening. The tongue 32 is tapered and rearwardly of the forward foldline in a continuation of the tapered edges of the tongue the cover 31is cut away slightly at 39 and 40. The back 34 and front portions 37 and38 are provided with a stiffening coating, of cardboard, plastic orother stiifening material adhered to the paper so as to protect thecigarettes when the sides have been collapsed for fewer than the usualthree rows of cigarettes. With the first row of cigarettes removedtherefrom the sides of the cover diverging with the tongue can beallowed to enter deeper into the opening 33. The cover is an extensionof the pliable paper at the back of the package. If desired the tonguecan be reinforced with cardboard or other stiffening material. The stifffront portions 37 and 38 overlie one another and by being stiff theytend to clamp the tongue and thereby hold the cover in its closedposition over the cigarettes.

Depending respectively from the portions 34, 35, .36 and 38 of the paperwrapper are portions 41, 42, 43 and 44 which can be folded upon oneanother in the usual manner over the bottom 16 of the inner Wrapper tofurther close the bottom of the package. The front portions 37 and 38are glued to each other slightly along their opposite sides as indicatedat 45 and 46, FIGS. 1 and 5.

A thin transparent outer wrapper 47 is wrapped about the entire packagein the usual manner and over the cover to further maintain the cover inits closed position within the package.

As shown in FIG. 5, there is provided a collapsible central stiffeningsleeve 48. This stiffening sleeve is made of heavier sheet material thanthe wrapper 30 and confines the cigarettes to rows. Also the sleeveinhibits the removal of the cigarettes from the package one row at atime beginning preferably with the front row, then the back row.

.In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a modified form of the inventionwherein a paper outer wrapper 50 has a cover 51 secured thereto that isformed of cardboard or the like and stiffer than the unstiffened paperwrapper material. The cover 51 has a tongue 52 that is inserted into aslot 53 in the wrapper 50 to hold the cover closed over the cigarettes.The wrapper 50 has a stiff back portion or panel 54 to which thecardboard tongue 51 is attached by gluing as indicated at 55 to theupper end of the back portion and on either the inner or outer facethereof. Side portions 56, 57 are foldably secured to the back portion54. A tab extension 58 is provided on the side portion 56 so as tosecure the side to front portion 59 when the wrapper is placed over thecigarettes. The front portion 59 has the slot 53 spaced downwardly fromits upper edge and into which the tongue 52 of the 4 cover 51 isextended when the cover is in the closed position. Thefront portion 59is glued to the tab extension 58 as indicated at 60, FIG. 6. Dependingfrom the portions 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are the respective foldablebottom portions 61, 62,63, 64 and 65 which are folded as indicated andin the usual manner as shown along dash fold lines to enclose the bottomof the package. The cover 51 is scored at intervals or spaces the widthof a cigarette apart as indicated by dotted parallel lines 66 in orderto permit the cover to be folded over the top of the package and overthe separate rows of the cigarettes as the rows are removed one at atime and to fit the package as it is reduced in thickness. The tongue 52has tapered sides 67 and 68 to facilitate the extension of the tongueinto the slot 53 when the rows of cigarettes have been reduced from theoriginal number. The back and front portions 54 and 59 are stiffened bya sprayed stiffening coating or otherwise applied stiffening layer asindicated by the stippling while the flexible paper wrapper sideportions 56 and 57 are allowed to collapse. The tongue is held in placein the slot 53 by the stiffened front.

Referring now particularly to the third form of the invention as shownin FIGS. 8 to 13, cigarettes 28 are enclosed within the tinfoil innerwrapper 15 the same as with the other forms of the invention. Placed inthe front and in the rear of a package, indicated generally at 70, arerespectively front and rear stiffening cards 71 and 72 in much the samemanner as disclosed in the United States Patent 2,904,169 by thisinventor for a Cigarette Package. These stiffening elements are formedof thick heavy paper, cardboard or other suitable rigid or stiifmaterial and extend over the full areas of the front and back of thepackage. A top cover 73 is an extension of cardboard 72 secured to theinner face of the back stifiening element by a hinge strip '74 and anadhesive 75. If desired, the extension may be integrally formed on thestiffening element 72. This cover is scored or weakened along parallellines at 7 6 to allow the cover to be hinged and collapsed upon itselfas the package is reduced in thickness and upon the rows of cigarettes28 being used. The cover 73 has a tongue 77 which is adapted to beextended through a loop 78 that may be fastened to the inner face of thefront stiffening card 71 by adhesive areas 79 and 80. The tongue 77 hasdiverging side edges 81 and 82 adapted to enter more deeply into thestrap or loop 78 when the package has been collapsed to the last row asshown in FIG. 13.

In order to stilfen the package further and to cause the rows to besystematically removed from the open package a stiffening sleeve 83 isdisposed about the inner row of cigarettes. This sleeve is made ofcardboard or other rigid material and has its side 84 and 85 centrallyscored so as to permit its front and rear panel portions 86 and 87 to becollapsed upon each other when the middle row of cigarettes has beenremoved therefrom and to thereby permit the collapse of the package uponthe last row.

The ends 84 and 85 may be merely narrow flexible paper strips connectingthe two front and rear panel portions together. The sides of the sleeve83 are preferably adhered to the foil wrapper. Running along the upperedge of the front panel portion 86 is a flap 88 which will be extendedat right angles over the middle row of cigarettes lying in the sleeve83. Another flap 89 runs along the upper edge of the rear panel portion87 and can extend over the rear row of cigarettes. An outer paperwrapper 90 is provided about the cardboards 71 and 72 and a thintransparent cover wrapper 91 is provided over the outer wrapper in theusual manner. After the first row has been used the flap 88 can beturned forwardly over the front panel portion of the sleeve 83 andtucked inwardly as shown in FIG. 13 or it can be torn away. Access isthereby had to the second row of cigarettes lying within the sleeve 83and the package can then be collapsed in the manner as illustrated inFIGS. 12 and 13. The front side of the-package is collapsed so" that thepackage will have only the thickness of two cigarette rows. The rearflap 89' can be lifted and turned into the sleeve 83 after the second ormiddle row of cigarettes has been used from the sleeve. The sleeve 83will then be further collapsed so that the package will have thethickness of a single row of cigarettes. If desired, the rear row ofcigarettes may be used prior to the middle row by turning its flap 89back over the flap 88 of the middle row.

Full protection will accordingly be given to the cigarettes like with acardboard box but at the same time the package is allowed to becollapsed so. as to consumeless and less space as the cigarettes areused. The cover 73 is scored along the lines 76, FIGS. 8 and 10, andwill be folded along these lines one at atime as the rows of cigarettesare removed from the package and after each row has been removed it maybe pressed deeper into the package.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 14 and 15, there isshown a furtherform of the invention, whereina wrapper 100 is formed of a single sheetof flexible material and comprises a back or rear portion 101,collapsible side portions 102 and 103- extending from the respectiveopposite sides thereof, a front portion 104 on the side portion 103 anda partial underlying front portion 105 on the side portion 102. Theseportions 101, 104 and 105 are provided with a stiffening coating orlayer so as to protect the cigarettes and prevent breakage whilepermitting at the same time the-package to be collapsed. Dependingrespectively from the portions 101, 102, 103 and 104 are respectivelyfoldable bottom flap portions 106, 107, 108 and 109 that when foldedinwardly provide the bottom of the package. Extending upwardly from theback is a tongue cover portion 110 and to the sides of which and to therespective upper ends of the side portions 102 and 103 are respectivelyconnected foldable side portions 111 and 112. These side portions arecreased to automatically fold inwardly as the tongue 110 is insertedwith increasing depth between the front portion 104 and the partialportion 105 as illustrated best in FIG. 15. The side portionsrespectively automatically fold along diagonal fold lines 111' and 112'.The upper edge of the partial portion 105 is cut away lower than theupper edge of the portion 104 so as to facilitate the insertion of theend of the tongue cover portion 110 between the portions 104 and 105.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a still further form of the inventionutilizing the foldable cover side portions. A paper wrapper 120 has aback panel portion 121 and respectively connected to the opposite sidesthereof are foldable side portions 122 and 123. To the foldable sideportion 123, there is connected a front panel portion 124 having ahorizontal slit 125. The side portion 122 has an extension 126 by whichthe wrapper is adhered to the front panel portion 124. Depending fromthe portions 121, 122, 123, 124 and 126 is a foldable bottom portionindicated generally at 127. The back panel portion 121 and the frontpanel portion 124 are provided with stiffening material to protect thecigarettes as the package is collapsed. In this form of the invetnion,the foldable side portions 130 and 131 are provided on a cardboardtongue 128 which is adhered by its lower portion 129 to the back panelportion 121 and side portions 122 and 123. The foldable side portions130 and 131 :are respectively foldable along diagonal lines 130 and 131and fold inwardly in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 17. This tongue128 and the side portions are weakened by parallel score lines 132 whichare spaced the thickness of the cigarette apart from one another so thatas the package collapses the tongue can be folded over the remaining rowof cigarettes and extended further through the slit 125. The foldableside portions will be folded inwardly over the upper ends of thecigarette. While the stiffness of the back panel portion 121 and thefront panel portion 124 will serve to hold the tongue within the slit125. It is found that the tongue can be further held within slit 125 byparallel raised ribs 113 on the inner side of the tongue spaced from oneanother the width of a cigarette and adapted to cooperate with the edgesof slit 125.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, there is shown a still further form of the inventionin which the foldable side portions on the tongue are employed. Stiffcards and 141 are connected together by a flexible paper strip 142 thatextends across the bottom and up the two sides of the package as shownin the above-mentioned copending application. This strip has sideportions 143 and 144 with extension lips 145 and 146 that respectivelysecure the strip to the side edges of the front and rear cardboards 140and 141. The upper ends of the side portions 143 and 144 arerespectively provided with foldable side portions 147 and 148. Theseside portions respectively have foldable attaching lips 149 and 150which serve for the attachment of a tongue 151 to the flexible paperstrip 142. This tongue is also connected to the stiff back 141 byadhesive. The front card is provided with a slit 153 into which thetongue is inserted and which will be held therein due to the stiffnessof the cardboard. The tongue 151 is bent to enter slit 153. The tongueis connected to the back piece 141 as shown at 154.

It will be seen that the foldable cones side portions with all of theseforms of the invention are extended as the cover is lifted so thatcrumbs of tobacco will not easily be dropped from the sides of package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, there is shown afurther form of an outer wrapper which is provided with an unfoldedbottom to make for an easy collapsing of the package at the bottomthereof as the rows of cigarettes are used. This package comprises anouter wrapper indicated generally at which has a stiff back panelportion 161, a flexible bottom portion 162 and a stiff front panelportion 163.

The stiff back and front panel portions 161 and 163 are provided with astiffening coating or layer to render them rigid and collapsible uponthe cigarette rows. The back panel portion 161 has side flaps 164 and165 adapted to unite with bottom flaps 166 and 167 of the flexiblebottom portion 162 and with side flaps 168i and 169 of the front panelportion 163. These flaps are extended over the sides of the innerwrapper and cigarettes as indicated in phantom lines 170 in FIG. 21. Theflaps may be secured to one another by an adhesive or in any suitablemanner.

The back panel portion 161 is provided with a cover 171 having a tongue172 that is stiffened at its end at 173 so that it can be easilyinserted under a stiffened strip 174 adhered at its opposite ends asindicated at 175 to the inner face of the front portion 163.

In FIG. 23, it will be seen that there is a slightly different form ofwrapper from that shown. in FIG. 20 in which the flaps 164 and 165 onthe back panel portion 161 are dispensed with. In order to have thepackage sufficiently weakened on its sides so as to permit the collapseof the package on the cigarettes only flaps 168' and 169' on the frontpanel portion 163 are used. In order to adhere these flaps to the backportion 161, extensions 176 and 177 are respectively provided.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a cigarettepackage which has stiff front and back panel portions to provideprotection for the cigarettes yet permit the panel portions to becollapsed onto remaining rows of cigarettes and wherein a cover isattached to the back panel portion and adapted to be extended over thecigarettes and by which the cover is held in place over the cigarettesby a tongue attached thereto and adapted to be extended into a slit,slot or strip provided on the front panel portion. In all forms of theinvention the sides are formed of unstiffened flexible paper material sothat they may be easily collapsed.

Also it will be noted that there has been provided with the packageinternal stiffening means to maintain the alignment of the cigarettes inrows.

It should be further apparent that this cigarette package combines theadvantages of both primary forms of packaging, namely, the bundle orpackage, and the box, and at the same time eliminates the need forconstant bulk of the box form. Also, it will be seen that a cigarettepackage has been provided which is crush-proof at all times and yetautomatically thins itself as the cigarettes are used.

While various changes may be made in the detail construotion, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible cigarette package adapted to contain rows of cigarettescomprising a collapsible wrapper formed of a single sheet of flexiblematerial and having front, rear and side portions, said front and rearportions having stifiening means extending over their full areas whilethe side portions are left flexible to permit the collapse of thepackage and of the stiifened front and rear portions from front to rearas the different rows of cigarettes are removed, a cover extendingupwardly from the rear portions of the package and adapted to becollapsed with the side portions of the cigarette package as the rows ofcigarettes are removed, said wrapper having inwardly foldable bottomflap portions to close off the bottom of the package, said cover having.a tongue extending from the front edge of the cover and insertable intothe front portion of the wrapper, said wrapper further having a secondfront portion underlying the front stiff portion and secured theretoalong their side edges and forming an opening into which the tongue onthe cover can be releasably inserted, one of said front portions of thewrapper being cut away along its upper edge in order to facilitate theinsertion of the tongue into the opening between the two front portionsof the wrapper.

2. A collapsible cigarette package as defined in claim 1, and foldableside portions connected between the cover and the flexible side portionsof the wrapper and adapted to be automatically folded outwardly andinwardly as the cover is opened and closed and to keep the crumbs of thetobacco from sliding from the package and from under the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS149,889 Smith Apr. 21, 1874 1,122,513 Lewis Dec.'29, 1914 2,096,102Gordon Oct. 19, 1937 2,109,100 Brophy Feb. 22, 1938 2,333,416 Ducey Nov.2, 1943 2,445,001 Pence July 13, 1948 2,617,576 Bergstein Nov. 11, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 21,276 Germany of 1883

